Fifteen people have been charged after Sunshine Coast police officers conducted more than 1100 random breath tests as part of a high-visibility operation to target unsafe driving.
Operation Coolsafe was held on Saturday, January 24, and Sunday, January 25, across the Sunshine Coast, resulting in six people being charged for alleged drug-driving and nine for alleged drink-driving.
Thirteen traffic infringement notices were also issued.
About 11pm on January 24, officers intercepted a red Toyota Yaris on the Sunshine Motorway at Pacific Paradise. The driver, a 53-year-old Pacific Paradise man, allegedly returned a positive reading.
He was issued a notice to appear and charged with one count of driving while a relevant drug is present and is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 31.
Just after midnight on January 25, officers intercepted a black Audi Q5 on the Sunshine Coast Motorway at Bli Bli. The driver, a 43-year-old Mudjimba man, allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration of 0.135 per cent.
His licence was suspended, issued a notice to appear and charged with one count of being in charge of a motor vehicle when over the middle alcohol limit. He is expected to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 10.
About 10 minutes later, officers intercepted the same black Audi Q5 on Sundew Street where the driver, a 38-year-old Mudjimba woman who had allegedly left the RBT site with two children in the car, allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration of 0.151 per cent.
Her licence was immediately suspended and she was issued with a notice to appear and charged with one count of driving under the influence of liquor. She is expected to appear before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 24.
Around 11.25pm on 24 January, officers intercepted a white SsangYong on David Low Way at Pacific Paradise. The driver, a 60-year-old Pacific Paradise woman, returned a breath alcohol concentration of 0.097 per cent.
She was issued with a notice to appear and charged with one count of drive over the general alcohol limit. She is expected to appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 10 February.
At 9.30pm on January 24, officers intercepted a white Toyota Hilux on David Low Way at Pacific Paradise. The driver, a 25-year-old Palmview woman, allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration of 0.087 per cent and returned a positive roadside drug test reading.
Her licence was suspended and she was charged with one count each of drive motor vehicle when over the middle alcohol limit and driving while relevant drug is present. She is expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 9.
Coolum Beach Sergeant Joel Bryant said despite ongoing enforcement activities and media campaigns, police continued to encounter road trauma related to liquor and drug-affected drivers.
“Police experience what the public does not: seeing the bodies of deceased victims, and the emotional toll of delivering death messages to victims’ families of avoidable road tragedies. It is a traumatic experience, not only for the families and loved ones but also for all front-line workers which can cause lifelong impacts,” Sergeant Bryant said.
“If you drink or drug drive, you’re not just irresponsible, you’re dangerous to other road users; an apology won’t reverse the agonising regret and remorse you’ll experience if you injure or kill another person on a road driving affected by liquor or drugs.”
